Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1938. GERMANY’S DEMAND FOR COLONIES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 November 1938, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1938. GERMANY’S DEMAND FOR COLONIES.

A RATHER complicated and confused state of affairs “lias arisen over Germany’s demand for colonies. From the standpoint of the British Empire and on still broader grounds, it is evidently desirable that the position should be cleared up as soon as possible. While Australia has .made it pretty plain that she does not mean to give up the former German New Guinea, and South Africa lias been even more emphatic on the subject of the former German South-West Africa, there is perhaps an inclination in the British Dominions, as well as on the part of tne British Government, to .make some concession to Germany where colonies are concerned.

According to some recent reports, the South African Union Government is planning a conference of all the European States interested in African territory to. consider the satisfaction of Germany’s colonial claims. This implies, that South Africa is prepared to agree to the restoration of some African territory,to Germany, but,the possibility has to be' considered that any concession at this stage might merely enable the Nazi leaders to celebrate another triumph and present them with new opportunities of making mischief in the world.

There is a good deal to be said for a suggestion*made by Lord Lothian (leader of the British delegation to the Commonwealth Relations Conference), prior to his departure from Australia. This was that some colonial, concession should be made to Germany only in return for a real, effective, all-round limitation of armaments,” but that there should be an utter refusal to yield colonies if their return meant “the creation of vast new aerial and marine bases in Africa and elsewhere, which could be used to disturb the peace and threaten our defences.” The justice of these observations appears even in Herr Hitler’s reported statement that the question of colonies could momentarily be postponed, “and considered when a more oppoitune atmosphere would enable a mutually honourable solution, including a non-aggression pact” and other measures of international agreement.

Particularly in view of the unsettled and disordered state of Europe, dangers to the Dominions may be involved in resisting Germany’s claim to colonies, but one danger is not overcome or averted by creating another, and there is an apparent danger that some of Germany’s former colonies, if they passed again into her hands, might be developed as bases directly threatening one or another of the Dominions.

Caution in dealing with the whole question is the more necessary since Nazi Germany obviously is trading on the existing situation and for; purposes of policy is exaggerating the importance of her colonial claims. To a great extent, the reasons for which Germany is now demanding colonies manifestly are invented. In “Mein Kampf,” Hitler described Germany’s pre-war colonies as absurd, and declared that the Reich should “renounce colonies and sea power.” As recently as August, 1934, he told Mr Ward Price that: “Germany does not want colonies.” In February, 1937, however, the Fuehrer informed the Reichstag that “the demand for colonies for our densely-populated .country will again and again be raised as a matter of course.” Now he makes a merit of suggesting that the question of colonies may be “momentarily postponed.”

The reference to “colonies for our densely-populated country” must be classed as mere rhetoric. In 1914, Germany’s colonies had a total white population of only about 20,000 and were supplying only one-half of one per cent of her imports. As to future possibilities, facts set forth in a pamphlet lately issued by the Royal Institute of International Affairs are illuminating.

If Germany were to repossess all her former colonies, they would be able to supply her with only a small proportion of lhe raw materials she needs, even taking tropical products alone into consideration. In 1934 the former German colonies produced only one-seventh of Germany’s requirements of vegetable oils, one-tenth of the coffee she consumes, about two per cent of cotton she needs. They could contribute little or nothing' towards meeting her deficiency in iron, rubber, petroleum, and copper.

Taking account of the lines on which Nazi policy is developing” and of the conditions ruling in Europe, the German demand for colonies, while it evidently lacks any serious economic justification, has its evidently sinister aspect. New Zealand’s interest in the matter is much treater than its power of influencing the course of events. Naturally, however, there is full sympathy in this country with the'attitude of Australia and South Africa in opposing Resolutely the re-establishment of German colonies at their doors, and at a general view there will be no eagerness to see any colonies restored to Germany until the aspect of international relationships in Europe and elsewhere has been changed greatly for the better.